Muldrow School Board To Consider Commandments Issue Monday

Saturday

May 11, 2013 at 4:08 AMMay 11, 2013 at 4:22 AM

MULDROW — The School Board will address a complaint made to Muldrow Public School administrators about Ten Commandment plaques that have been posted in each of the district's classrooms for many years, a district representative confirmed Friday.

MULDROW — The School Board will address a complaint made to Muldrow Public School administrators about Ten Commandment plaques that have been posted in each of the district’s classrooms for many years, a district representative confirmed Friday.

According to the meeting agenda, which is available on the district’s website, the board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Board of Education meeting room, Cafetorium Building, High School campus, 715 W. Shawntel Smith Blvd.

The agenda items pertaining to the religious display state that Shawn Money wants to address the board about the displays being removed from the classroom walls, and a discussion regarding the issue.

Money is senior pastor at Muldrow First Assembly of God. According to the church Facebook page, the congregation partnered with the Christian students of Muldrow Middle School and High School to provide free Ten Commandment T-shirts to any student wanting one by a Friday deadline.

A school employee said the Muldrow Ministerial Alliance and several parents also plan to attend the board meeting.

Money said Friday that he anticipates hundreds will turn out for the meeting — community members as well as the Alliance, an affiliation of many area Christian churches.

Money said the school administration received a letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, stating that an unnamed student had contacted the foundation, stating that the Ten Commandments were in the Muldrow classrooms. The letter told school administrators that posting the commandments there is not permissible, and they would have to be removed immediately, Money said.

Money said he’s been conferring with school administration, and the administrators consulted legal sources who told them that according to a 1980 court ruling, the Ten Commandments cannot be in the public classrooms and must come down.

“We believe the Ten Commandments have a place in our society and are appropriate in our classrooms. … We felt we needed as Christians to let our voices be heard. … We feel we have been losing things important to us,” Money said.

Money said the plaques were donated to the district in the early 1990s, although he cannot recall who donated them.

He said the Ministerial Alliance recognizes that school administration is in a tough spot and cannot afford to fight such a legal battle. Money said the group has assured school officials that its members support them, are praying for them and will continue to support them whatever decision they reach.

Money said he anticipates that the attendees at the board meeting will behave respectfully and in a Christian fashion.

Muldrow School Superintendent Ron Flanagan did not respond to multiple Times Record requests for information since Wednesday.

When a related state-sponsored religious expression issue resulted in parents’ complaints in the Van Buren School District in 2011, district administrators directed the teacher to remove the Bible verses posted in her classroom and conferred with her regarding district policy, which is aligned with the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance regarding religious practices at public schools.

According to that guidance: “Students may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction, … may read their Bibles or other scriptures, … study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour or other non-instructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities.”

According to the federal guidance, based upon constitutional law, among permitted behaviors, “Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs and ‘see you at the pole’ gatherings before school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities groups.”

The federal guidance states that when acting in their official capacities as representatives of the state, public school teachers, administrators and other school employees “are prohibited by the Establishment Clause from encouraging or discouraging prayer, and from actively participating in such activity with students.” According to the guidance, the school personnel can meet with other school personnel during breaks or before or after school hours for prayer or religious study to the same extent they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activities.

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